The sixth London Music & Drama Education Expo will take place at Olympia Central on 22 and 23 February this year. As ever it is free to attend, so if you haven't already, it's not too late to get out your diary and book in a day (or two) of inspiring, high-quality and diverse CPD.
Curriculum and creativity
The Expo brings together music and drama teachers for an event which aims to provide a free, useful and refreshing event. There is a lot to talk about, with changes in assessment, the ever-present need to uphold the value of cultural education for all, and conversations to have, relationships to build with colleagues – not to mention the fact that, for us all, there are always new ideas to explore.
As the new GCSEs bed in, we will have some strategies for 1-9 and a look at the new music technology A-level, as well as a number of sessions providing ideas for encouraging creativity and supporting composition, including how to put singing at the heart of KS5.
This year we will be introducing Creatives’ Corner, which will allow visitors to meet the faces behind the teaching books and resources we use every day: a rolling programme of meet-and-greets with top authors, allowing you to ask the questions you always wanted to ask: why did you go with finger three here, and do you really think my students can stretch a ninth? Oh, and, yes, thank you so much, your book has transformed my teaching.
New ideas
The Expo will be packed full of pedagogy, with Paul Harris posing the question ‘Are your students actually learning?’ (always good to check), and Samantha Coates suggesting practical ways to encourage students to practice in an increasingly busy world. Karen Marshall and Heather Hammond will suggest ways to keep students engaged in learning their instrument, and Christopher Fisher of the University of Ohio will explore methods of teaching piano in groups. And for all the budding ukulele players – and their students – Paul Mansell will demonstrate just how far it is possible to progress on the instrument: way beyond three chords and playing along to YouTube videos.
There are several sessions for early years practitioners, as well as workshops looking at inclusive music-making, and the business of being a music teacher will also be covered, with sessions looking at the impact of hubs from a teacher's perspective, building a private teaching practice, setting tuition fees, arts entrepreneurship, and assessing the political and strategic landscape for creative subjects in and out of schools.
Bringing teachers together
Alongside the new Creatives’ Corner there will again be a programme of sharing labs, bringing teachers and practitioners together to discuss particular areas of practice and pedagogy. And the exhibition will once again be full to the rafters with industry colleagues, all of whom will be only too happy to discuss their products, services and ideas – and tell you how they can help to support your teaching.
In a world where music and drama feel increasingly undervalued by government – and, ironically, even as the UK's creative sector is a rare economic success story – we need to rely and support each other more than ever. As ever, thanks to the support of the music and drama education sector overall, and thanks to the thousands of teachers who attend every year, this year's Expo will be an inspiring, practical, and above all free opportunity for teachers to look at their own approaches to their teaching, share ideas, and come away tired but energised and refreshed, ready to take on the rest of the year. We hope to see you there in February – book your free ticket now!
